Mobile device to provide enhanced security based upon contextual sensor inputs

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a mobile device to provide enhanced security based upon contextual sensor inputs. The mobile device may include: a biometric sensor; a contextual sensor; and a processor. The processor may be configured to: determine an authentication score based upon a biometric input received from the biometric sensor; modulate the authentication score based upon a contextual sensor input from the contextual sensor related to an event; and determine if the modulated authentication score falls below a predetermined threshold. If the authentication score falls below the predetermined threshold, the processor may command that a secondary authentication be performed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation application of, and claims thebenefit of priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/539,510,filed Nov. 12, 2014, the entire contents of which are incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND Field

The present invention relates to a mobile device that provides enhancedsecurity based upon contextual sensor inputs.

Relevant Background

User authentication is now commonly required to access a mobile devicesuch as: a smart phone, a tablet, a laptop, etc. A commonly deployedauthentication method to authenticate a user to a mobile device is apassword. However, with the advance of mobile devices, biometricauthentication methods are now being utilized more frequently. Forexample, a user's fingerprint is now increasingly being utilized as anauthentication method with the use of fingerprint authentication sensorsin mobile devices.

Unfortunately, even these newer biometric authentication methods (e.g.,fingerprint) may still be hacked, utilized with lost or stolen mobiledevices, and/or utilized by other devices.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the invention may relate to a mobile device to provideenhanced security based upon contextual sensor inputs. The mobile devicemay include: a biometric sensor; a contextual sensor; and a processor.The processor may be configured to: determine an authentication scorebased upon a biometric input received from the biometric sensor;modulate the authentication score based upon a contextual sensor inputfrom the contextual sensor related to an event; and determine if themodulated authentication score falls below a predetermined threshold. Ifthe authentication score falls below the predetermined threshold, theprocessor may command that a secondary authentication be performed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a device in which aspects of the invention may bepracticed.

FIG. 2 is flow diagram illustrating a process to enhance authentication.

FIG. 3 is block diagram illustrating biometric and contextual sensorsutilized in authentication.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating state transitions for theauthentication process.

FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are a flow diagram illustrating the authenticationprocess.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The word “exemplary” or “example” is used herein to mean “serving as anexample, instance, or illustration.” Any aspect or embodiment describedherein as “exemplary” or as an “example” in not necessarily to beconstrued as preferred or advantageous over other aspects orembodiments.

As used herein, the term “mobile device” refers to any form ofprogrammable computer device including but not limited to laptopcomputers, tablets, smartphones, televisions, desktop computers, homeappliances, cellular telephones, personal television devices, personaldata assistants (PDA's), palm-top computers, wireless electronic mailreceivers, multimedia Internet enabled cellular telephones, GlobalPositioning System (GPS) receivers, wireless gaming controllers,receivers within vehicles (e.g., automobiles), interactive game devices,notebooks, smartbooks, netbooks, mobile television devices, or anycomputing device or data processing apparatus.

FIG. 1 is block diagram illustrating an exemplary device in whichembodiments of the invention may be practiced. The system may be acomputing device (e.g., a mobile device 100), which may include one ormore processors 101, a memory 105, I/O controller 125, and networkinterface 110. Mobile device 100 may also include a number of sensorscoupled to one or more buses or signal lines further coupled to theprocessor 101. It should be appreciated that mobile device 100 may alsoinclude a display 120 (e.g., a touch screen display), a user interface119 (e.g., keyboard, touch screen, or similar devices), a power device121 (e.g., a battery), as well as other components typically associatedwith electronic devices. In some embodiments, mobile device 100 may be atransportable device, however, it should be appreciated that device 100may be any type of computing device that is mobile or non-mobile (e.g.,fixed at a particular location).

Mobile device 100 may include sensors such as: a clock 130, ambientlight sensor (ALS) 135, biometric sensor 137 (e.g., blood pressuremonitor, etc.), accelerometer 140, gyroscope 145, magnetometer 150,orientation sensor 151, fingerprint sensor 152, weather sensor 155(e.g., temperature, wind, humidity, barometric pressure, etc.), GlobalPositioning Sensor (GPS) 160, infrared (IR) sensor 153, proximity sensor167, and near field communication (NFC) sensor 169. Further, sensors mayinclude a microphone 165 and camera 170. Communication components mayinclude a wireless subsystem 115 (Bluetooth 166, Wi-Fi 111, cellular161), which may also be considered sensors, that are used to analyze theenvironment (e.g., position) of the device. In some embodiments,multiple cameras are integrated or accessible to the device. Forexample, a mobile device may have at least a front and rear mountedcamera. In some embodiments, other sensors may also have multipleinstallations or versions.

Memory 105 may be coupled to processor 101 to store instructions forexecution by processor 101. In some embodiments, memory 105 isnon-transitory. Memory 105 may also store one or more models, modules,engines to implement embodiments described below that are implemented byprocessor 101. Memory 105 may also store data from integrated orexternal sensors.

Mobile device 100 may include one or more antenna(s) 123 and atransceiver 122. The transceiver 122 may be configured to communicatebidirectionally, via the antenna(s) and/or one or more wired or wirelesslinks, with one or more networks, in cooperation with network interface110 and wireless subsystems 115. Network interface 110 may be coupled toa number of wireless subsystems 115 (e.g., Bluetooth 166, Wi-Fi 111,Cellular 161, or other networks) to transmit and receive data streamsthrough a wireless link to/from a wireless network, or may be a wiredinterface for direct connection to networks (e.g., the Internet,Ethernet, or other wireless systems). Mobile device 100 may include oneor more local area network transceivers connected to one or moreantennas. The local area network transceiver comprises suitable devices,hardware, and/or software for communicating with and/or detectingsignals to/from WAPs, and/or directly with other wireless devices withina network. In one aspect, the local area network transceiver maycomprise a Wi-Fi (802.11x) communication system suitable forcommunicating with one or more wireless access points.

Mobile device 100 may also include one or more wide area networktransceiver(s) that may be connected to one or more antennas. The widearea network transceiver comprises suitable devices, hardware, and/orsoftware for communicating with and/or detecting signals to/from otherwireless devices within a network. In one aspect, the wide area networktransceiver may comprise a CDMA communication system suitable forcommunicating with a CDMA network of wireless base stations; however inother aspects, the wireless communication system may comprise anothertype of cellular telephony network or femtocells, such as, for example,TDMA, LTE, Advanced LTE, WCDMA, UMTS, 4G, or GSM. Additionally, anyother type of wireless networking technologies may be used, for example,WiMax (802.16), Ultra Wide Band, ZigBee, wireless USB, etc. Inconventional digital cellular networks, position location capability canbe provided by various time and/or phase measurement techniques. Forexample, in CDMA networks, one position determination approach used isAdvanced Forward Link Trilateration (AFLT).

Thus, device 100 may be a: mobile device, wireless device, cellularphone, personal digital assistant, mobile computer, wearable device(e.g., head mounted display, wrist watch, virtual reality glasses,etc.), internet appliance, gaming console, digital video recorder,e-reader, robot navigation system, tablet, personal computer, laptopcomputer, or any type of device that has processing capabilities. Asused herein, a mobile device may be any portable, or movable device ormachine that is configurable to acquire wireless signals transmittedfrom, and transmit wireless signals to, one or more wirelesscommunication devices or networks. Thus, by way of example but notlimitation, mobile device 100 may include a radio device, a cellulartelephone device, a computing device, a personal communication systemdevice, or other like movable wireless communication equipped device,appliance, or machine. The term “mobile device” is also intended toinclude devices which communicate with a personal navigation device,such as by short-range wireless, infrared, wire line connection, orother connection—regardless of whether satellite signal reception,assistance data reception, and/or position-related processing occurs atthe device 100. Also, “mobile device” is intended to include alldevices, including wireless communication devices, computers, laptops,etc., which are capable of communication with a server, such as via theInternet, Wi-Fi, or other network, and regardless of whether satellitesignal reception, assistance data reception, and/or position-relatedprocessing occurs at the device, at a server, or at another deviceassociated with the network. Any operable combination of the above arealso considered a “mobile device.”

It should be appreciated that embodiments of the invention as will behereinafter described may be implemented through the execution ofinstructions, for example as stored in the memory 105 or other element,by processor 101 of mobile device 100 and/or other circuitry of deviceand/or other devices. Particularly, circuitry of the device, includingbut not limited to processor 101, may operate under the control of aprogram, routine, or the execution of instructions to execute methods orprocesses in accordance with embodiments of the invention. For example,such a program may be implemented in firmware or software (e.g. storedin memory 105 and/or other locations) and may be implemented byprocessors, such as processor 101, and/or other circuitry of device.Further, it should be appreciated that the terms processor,microprocessor, circuitry, controller, etc., may refer to any type oflogic or circuitry capable of executing logic, commands, instructions,software, firmware, functionality and the like. The functions of eachunit or module within the mobile device 100 may also be implemented, inwhole or in part, with instructions embodied in a memory, formatted tobe executed by one or more general or application-specific processors.

Embodiments of the invention may relate to an apparatus and method toenhance security on a biometric enabled mobile device. In particular, aswill be described hereinafter, mobile device 100 having biometricauthentication features, under the control of processor 101, mayimplement methods to enhance the security of the biometric enabledmobile device based upon contextual sensor inputs.

Various terminologies will be described to aid in the understanding ofaspects of the invention. Sensor inputs may refer to any input from anyof the previously described sensors, such as: clock 130, ambient lightsensor (ALS) 135, biometric sensor 137 (e.g., blood pressure monitor,etc.), accelerometer 140, gyroscope 145, magnetometer 150, orientationsensor 151, fingerprint sensor 152, weather sensor 155 (e.g.,temperature, wind, humidity, barometric pressure, etc.), GlobalPositioning Sensor (GPS) 160, infrared (IR) sensor 153, microphone 165,proximity sensor 167, near field communication (NFC) sensor 169, camera170, etc.

In particular, some of the sensor inputs may be referred to a biometricsensor inputs from biometric sensors, which may include: fingerprintsensor 152 (e.g., fingerprint input), touch-screen 120 (e.g.,fingerprint input), touch-screen 120 (e.g., hand geometry), pressuresensors, microphone 165 (e.g., voice scan), camera 170 (facial scan), IRsensor 153 (iris scan), etc. It should be appreciated these are justexample of biometric sensor inputs and biometric sensors and that a widevariety of additional sensor inputs may be utilized. For example, otherbiometric sensors 137 may be utilized, such as, a blood pressure sensor.

Further, contextual information or contextual inputs may refer to thecurrent environment or current events that the mobile device 100 iscurrently in as monitored by “contextual sensor”. Therefore, acontextual sensor may be considered to be any type of sensor thatrelates to the current context situation (i.e., current events) of themobile device which may relate to such contextual sensing informationas: light; acceleration; weather; orientation; location, proximity,sound, etc. Accordingly, examples of contextual sensors may include:ambient light sensor 135; accelerometer 140; weather sensor 155;orientation sensor 151; GPS 160, proximity sensor 167; microphone 165,etc. These merely being examples of context inputs and contextualsensors. Also, contextual inputs may also be characterized as datacollected about the user, such as: transaction amounts during purchases,user spending data, crowd source data, demographic data, websitesvisited, emails, phone calls made, files opened, networks used,applications used, etc.

Embodiments of the invention may relate to an apparatus and method toenhance security on a biometric enabled mobile device 100. Inparticular, as will be described hereinafter, mobile device 100, underthe control of processor 101, may implement methods to enhance thesecurity of the biometric enabled mobile device based upon contextualsensor inputs.

As previously described, mobile device 100 may include one or morebiometric sensors, as well as, as one or more contextual sensors.Processor 101 may be configured to: determine an authentication scorebased upon biometric input received from a biometric sensor; modulatethe authentication score based upon contextual sensor input receivedfrom a contextual sensor related to an event; and determine if themodulated authentication score falls below a predetermined threshold. Ifthe modulated authentication score falls below the predeterminedthreshold, the processor may command that a secondary authentication beperformed or the destruction of a biometric template. Further, if themodulated authentication score falls below the predetermined thresholdother actions may be initiated such as reduced access to data orfunctions or reduced user authorization (e.g., purchasing power). As oneexample, if the modulated authentication score falls below thepredetermined threshold, the mobile device 100 may only be permitted tomake emergency calls and local calls but is not permitted to access thecontacts call list or to make long distance calls. As another example,if the modulated authentication score falls below the predeterminedthreshold, the mobile device 100 may only be permitted to make purchasesof $100 or less but not more. It should be appreciated that a widevariety of different types of restrictions to a user's accessibility todata and functionality of the mobile device 100 may be applied. Further,as will be described, the authentication score may be modulated in acontinuous manner for comparison with the predetermined threshold todetermine the user's accessibility to data and functions of the mobiledevice 100. Various examples of these types of implementations will bedescribed in more detail hereinafter.

As previously described, the biometric sensor may be a soft biometricsensor configured to monitor a plurality of different types of biometricinputs. As examples, these may include a touch-screen 120 (e.g.,fingerprint scan, finger geometry, hand geometry, etc.), microphone 165(e.g., voice scan, vocal password, etc.), camera 170 (e.g., facial scan,hand scan, etc.). Further, hard biometric sensors may relate to sensorsthat are configured to only monitor a particular biometric input, suchas, fingerprint sensor 152 that is a pre-defined sensor to only scanfingerprints. A wide variety of hard biometric sensors 137 may beutilized. Example of hard biometric sensor may include: blood pressuresensor, iris scan sensor, etc.

As previously described, contextual sensor inputs may be inputs from acontextual sensor related to an event and/or may include at least one ofcurrent user input data, previous user input data, websites visited,demographic data, etc. As previously described, a “contextual sensor”may be considered to be any type of sensor that relates to currentcontext situation related to events of the mobile device which mayrelate to such sensing information as: light; acceleration; weather;orientation; location; proximity; sound; etc. Accordingly, examples ofcontextual sensors may include; ambient light sensor 135; accelerometer140; weather sensor 155; orientation sensor 151; GPS 160; proximitysensor 167; microphone 165; etc.

With brief additional reference to FIG. 2, a process 200 to enhancesecurity of a biometric enabled mobile device will be briefly described.In one embodiment, an authentication score based upon a biometric inputfrom a biometric sensor may be determined (Block 202). Next, theauthentication score may be modulated based upon a contextual sensorinput received from a contextual sensor related to an event (Block 204).At block 210, process 200 determines if the modulated authenticationscore falls below a predetermined threshold. If not, normal operationsproceed (Block 212). If so, a secondary authentication may be commandedand/or a biometric template may be destroyed. Further, in oneembodiment, if the modulated authentication score falls below apredetermined threshold, the mobile device may be disabled or killed. Inone example, a kill switch may be implemented. Particular examples ofthese embodiments will be hereinafter described in more detail.

With brief additional reference to FIG. 3, in one embodiment, mobiledevice 100 may include hard biometrics sensors 302, soft biometricsensors 305, and contextual sensors 307, as previously described.Further, one or more paired devices (e.g. paired device 2 314 and paireddevice 3 316) including sensors may also be coupled to mobile device 100for authentication purposes. It should be appreciated that paireddevices 314 and 316 may include the same types of sensors as the mobiledevice 100 including hard biometrics sensors 302, soft biometric sensors305, and contextual sensors 307, as previously described, in detail.

As an example, biometric data from a hard biometric sensor 302 may beprovided to a biometric authentication module 310 in which the biometricdata from the hard biometric sensor is compared to the pre-storedtemplate 309 for the biometric data. An example of this may be afingerprint scan from a fingerprint sensor that is compared to thefingerprint template. Based upon the comparison of the scanned biometricdata to the pre-stored template 309, a score is calculated, and thescore is transmitted to the combined authentication score determinermodule 320. Further, soft biometric sensors 305 may provide sensor datato a secondary authentication module 312. Secondary authenticationmodule 312 may determine a score based upon the sensor data and thescore may be transmitted to the combined authentication score determinermodule 320. An example of this may be soft biometric data (e.g. facerecognition scan via camera 170, voice recognition scan via microphone165, etc.) that may be compared to pre-stored soft biometricauthentication data and, based upon the comparison to the pre-storedauthentication data, secondary authentication module 312 may calculate ascore that is transmitted to combined authentication score determinermodule 320.

Further, sensor data collected via contextual sensors 307 based uponevents (e.g. location via GPS 160, movement/acceleration viaaccelerometer 140, etc.) may be collected as sensor data and transmittedto sensor-cloud based authentication module 314. Additionally,contextual sensor data collected from paired devices 314 and 316 may becollected and also transmitted to sensor-cloud based authenticationmodule 314. Moreover, other types of sensor data from hard biometricsensors and soft biometric sensor of paired devices 314 and 316 may becollected and may be transmitted to sensor-cloud based authenticationmodule 314. Also, non-biometric user authentication statistic basedprocessing may also be collected and transmitted to sensory-cloud basedauthentication module 314. Based upon this collected contextual sensordata based upon events, sensor-cloud based authentication module 314 maytransmit this sensor data to the combined authentication scoredeterminer module 320. Particular examples of these embodiments will behereinafter described in more detail.

Combined authentication score determiner module 320 based upon thescores received from the hard biometric authentication module 310 andthe scores received from secondary authentication module 312 may combinethese authentication scores and may further modulate theseauthentication scores based upon the contextual sensor input datarelated to events from the mobile device 100 itself, as well as sensordata from paired devices 314 and 316, as collected by the sensory-cloudbased authentication module 314, to calculate a complete modulatedauthentication score 330. It should be appreciated that authenticationscore determiner module 320 may determine a modulation factor based uponthe events from the mobile device 100 itself and from the sensor datafrom the paired devices 314 and 316 to modulate or change theauthentication score (e.g., increase or decrease). As an example, themodulation factor may be a percentage increase or decrease (5%, 10%,15%, etc.) to the authentication score based upon the contextual eventdata or other sensor data from the mobile device 100 and/or the paireddevices 314 and 316 to increase or decrease (e.g., by a percentagebasis) the authentication score to calculate the complete authenticationscore 330. Further, user input preferences or authentication entitypreferences (e.g., from another device, on-line website, on-line serviceprovider (bank, store, government entity, healthcare provider), etc.)may set preferences for the types of hard biometric sensor data, softbiometric sensor data, and contextual sensor input data for the mobiledevice 100 itself (and paired devices 314 and 316) which may also beinputted and utilized by the combined authentication score determinermodule 320 to determine the complete authentication score 330. Thisauthentication score 330 may then be utilized for authentication. Forexample, if the authentication score 330 falls below a predeterminedthreshold (e.g., hereinafter referred to as predetermined trustthreshold) then secondary authentication may be commanded. For example,the user may be required to use an additional hard biometric sensor(e.g., an iris scan) and/or another soft biometric sensor, such as, avoice scan (e.g., name, password, etc.) to the microphone, etc. Asanother particular example, if the authentication score falls below apredetermined trust threshold, the biometric input 309 utilized (e.g.,the fingerprint scan) may be found to be fraudulent and the fingerprintbiometric template 309 destroyed. Additionally, if the authenticationscore 330 falls below a predetermined trust threshold, the mobile device100 may be disabled (e.g., killed). It should be appreciated that theauthentication score may be calculated as a numerical range (e.g., 0-10,1-100, etc.) or a score level range (e.g., low, medium, high) for acomparison against a similarly defined predetermined trust threshold. Itshould be appreciated that these are merely examples and that any typeof authentication scoring system may be utilized.

It should be appreciated that: previous authentication scores;user/device inputs; non-biometric user authentication statistics 332;etc.; may also be utilized by sensory-cloud based authentication module314 for use as modulation parameters. Also, it should be appreciatedthat the previously-described modules may be implemented by theprocessor of the mobile device itself for authentication scoring and/ormay be communicated to another device for authentication scoring.Additionally, it should be appreciated that the paired devices 314 and316 may be any type of paired device (e.g., another tablet, anothersmart phone, a watch, a headset, a biometric device, etc.). Any type ofpairing device may be utilized. Also, in one embodiment, the primarymobile device 100 may disable itself based upon a disable commandreceived from one of the paired devices 314 and 316. It should beappreciated that although two paired devices 314 and 316 are shown forillustrative purposes that any number of paired devices may be utilizedin conjunction with a primary mobile device 100. It should further beappreciated that paired devices 314 and 316 may include the same and/ordifferent types of sensors as the mobile device 100 including hardbiometrics sensors 302, soft biometric sensors 305, and contextualsensors 307, as previously described, in detail. The sensors of thepaired devices 314 and 316 may be utilized in cooperation with mobiledevice 100 for authentication purposes and to enhance the security ofthe mobile device 100. Various examples of the uses of the sensors ofthe paired devices 314 and 315 for authentication purposes and toenhance the security of the mobile device 100 will described withreference to FIGS. 4 and 5, along with various other examples.

With brief additional reference to FIG. 4, a high level state transitiondiagram 400 illustrating embodiments will be described. For example, atstate 402, biometric sensory data input is received from biometricsensors such that biometric sensory data is collected (e.g.,fingerprint, facial scan, voice scan, etc.) and transmitted to biometricauthentication module 408. Further, contextual sensory input data, atstate 412, from contextual sensors 307 (e.g., location, motion,acceleration, etc.) from the primary mobile device 100 is collected andtransmitted to sensory-cloud based authentication module 420. Moreover,contextual sensory input data from paired devices, at state 422, iscollected and transmitted to sensory-cloud based authentication module420. Biometric authentication module 408 may determine an authenticationscore for the biometric authentication data and may transmit theauthentication score to the combined authentication module 440. On theother hand, biometric authentication module 408 may determine that thetemplate for the biometric sensor should be destroyed (destroy templatestate 430). Further, the sensory-cloud based authentication module 420may determine an unsafe event has occurred and may determine that thetemplate for the biometric sensor should be destroyed (destroy templatestate 430). On the other hand, the sensory-cloud based authenticationmodule 420 may transmit an authentication modulator to the combinedauthentication module 440 based upon the contextual inputs related toevents from both the primary device and the paired devices. Again, thecombined authentication module 440 may be modulated by user preferences.

Combined authentication module 440 may modulate the authentication scorefrom the biometric authentication module 408 based upon theauthentication modulator data from the sensor-cloud based authenticationmodule 420, which is based upon contextual sensor input from thecontextual sensors related to events from both the primary device and/orthe paired devices. Again, when the authentication level falls below apredetermined trust threshold, a secondary authentication may becommanded or a biometric template may be destroyed.

With brief additional reference to FIG. 5, a flowchart illustrating aprocess 500 for enhancing security in a biometric enabled mobile devicewill be described. To begin with, authentication settings 502 may beestablished for the primary mobile device 100 and sensory-cloud basedauthentication 504 may be continuously provided to the primary mobiledevice 100 and the paired devices (e.g. paired device 314, paired device316, etc.), as previously described. Looking at the primary mobiledevice 100, available contextual sensors 307 (e.g., for location,motion, acceleration, etc.) are identified for use in the authenticationsystem. Next, at block 512 the next sensor in the authentication loop isadvanced to. Then, at block 514, events are monitored for leading to anauthentication score update. At block 516, if there are anyauthentication related events, process 500 moves to block 518, if not,process 500 moves back to block 512. In particular, at block 518, eventsleading to authentication level change in the primary device 518 (e.g.,drastic change in location, motion, acceleration, etc.) are recorded asauthentication related event (block 520) and, in particular, arecombined in the authentication combiner module 320, at block 530, inwhich a modulation factor is determined as previously described (basedon a combination of all the events), and the authentication score isadjusted by the modulation factor to determine a combined authenticationscore 330. In particular, at block 530, as previously described, theauthentication score is modulated based upon contextual sensor inputsfrom contextual sensors that are related to an event for adjusting thecombined authentication score that is based upon biometricauthentication inputs. The modulation factor may also be based upon theuse of paired devices as will be described.

Looking at paired devices, at block 540 paired devices are identifiedthat are in proximity to the primary device 100. At block 542, process500 determines whether all the devices have been processed. If not,process 500 advances to the next device (block 544). Then, availablecontextual sensors are identified for use by the authentication system.This is also based upon the device settings of the paired device (block548). In this way, the metrics on the paired device may participate inthe authentication process (block 550) as they are forwarded on to theauthentication combiner module 320 (block 530) for use in determiningthe modulation factor. On the other hand, if all of the paired deviceshave been processed (block 542), then the next sensor in theauthentication loop is advanced to (block 560), and the proximity andpairing of sensors/devices to the primary authentication device aremonitored (block 562). If the paired device is not out of state (block564), this process continues. However, if the paired device is out ofstate, then the events leading to the potential loss of authenticationin the primary device is reported (block 566) (e.g., user moved awayfrom primary device as detected by paired device (e.g., watch, etc.)) tothe to the authentication combiner module 320 (block 530) for use indetermining the modulation factor.

Again, at this point, with reference again to block 530, a combinedauthentication score can be determined based upon a plurality offactors. These factors include an authentication score based uponbiometric input data received from both hard biometric sensors 302(e.g., fingerprint sensor), as well as, soft biometric sensors 305(e.g., face recognition from a camera, voice recognition from amicrophone, etc.). Further, these authentication scores may be modulatedbased upon contextual sensor input from contextual sensors related to anevent. These contextual inputs may be related to location, motion,acceleration, user data input, etc., from contextual sensors 307 of theprimary device 100 itself, as previously described. Further, theauthentication score may be further modulated based upon contextualsensor input from the contextual sensors of paired devices 314 and 316(e.g., location, acceleration, position, motion, etc.) of paired devicesas well as other sensor data from paired devices. Based upon all of thisinputted data, and the combining of events, in order to determine themodulation factor, the combined authentication scores from the biometricsensors may be adjusted by the modulation factor to determine theoverall authentication score. If the authentication score falls below apredetermined trust threshold, then a secondary authentication may becommanded (e.g., a different type of authentication, such as eye scan,vocal scan, etc.) as well as other functions, such as, destroying abiometric template, or even disabling/killing the mobile device. Itshould be appreciated that the biometric template destroyed may be aparticular template from a particular biometric sensor, such as afingerprint template for a fingerprint sensor. Also, in one embodiment,a paired device may disable the mobile device based upon a disablecommand from the paired device.

Some particular examples illustrating the functionality of FIGS. 3-5,will be hereinafter described. As has been previously described, theauthentication system 300 may be configured to determine if themodulated authentication score 330 falls below a threshold, and if so,appropriate action may be taken. Examples of these types of actionsinclude a wide variety of different types of restrictions to a user'saccessibility to data and functions of the mobile device. Examples ofthese types of actions may include reduced access to data or functionsof the mobile device or reduced access to external entities that requireauthentication (e.g., another device, an on-line service provider (bank,store, healthcare), etc.). Other examples of types of action may includereduced access to data or reduced user authorization (e.g., purchasingpower). Other examples of types of action may include a command that asecondary authentication be performed or that a biometric template bedestroyed or that a mobile device be disabled or that a mobile device bereported as stolen, etc.

As has been described, the authentication score 330 may be modulated ina continuous manner based upon hard biometric sensor scores 302 (e.g.,fingerprint sensor), soft biometric sensor scores 305 (e.g., facerecognition from a camera, voice recognition from a microphone, etc.),and contextual sensor events/scores 307 (e.g., location, motion,acceleration, user data input, etc.). These continuously updatedcombined authentication scores 330 may be compared against continuouslyupdated thresholds to determine whether authentication should be grantedand/or what level of access should be granted. As has been described, ifthe modulated authentication score 330 falls below a threshold, actionsmay be initiated such as reduced access to data and functions or reduceduser authorization (e.g., purchasing power). As one example, if themodulated authentication score 330 falls below the predeterminedthreshold, the mobile device 100 may only be permitted to make emergencycalls and local calls but is not permitted to access the contacts calllist or to make long distance calls. As another example, if themodulated authentication score 330 falls below the predeterminedthreshold, the mobile device 100 may only be permitted to make purchasesof $100 or less but not more. It should be appreciated that these aremerely example. Other types of examples will be hereinafter described.

As one example, with particular reference to FIG. 3, a hard biometricfingerprint sensor 302 may receive a fingerprint scan for biometricauthentication 310 that matches the template 309 providing a very highauthentication score to the combined authentication score determinermodule 320. However, the soft biometric voice sensor data from themicrophone 305 for secondary authentication module 312 is very low (thevoice has a very low matching factor to the voice template) such that alow authentication score is transmitted to the combined authenticationscore determiner module 320. Moreover, the contextual sensor 307monitoring user input has monitored recent access to websites that havenever been visited before. Based upon this data, the combinedauthentication score determiner module 320 determines a combinedauthentication score 330 that is much lower than the threshold for themobile device 100. In this example, the mobile device perform actions toreduce access to data and functions for the user. As one example, themobile device may reduce user authorization (e.g., purchasing power). Inparticular, the mobile device 100 may only be permitted to makepurchases of $100 or less, but not more, to external entities (e.g., astore website). However, over time, due to the continuous nature ofgenerating the combined authentication score, the combinedauthentication score 330 may increase back to a suitable level (e.g.,based upon the user's voice matching the voice template), to becomegreater than the trust threshold such that full access to data andfunctions for the user is restored including user authorization (e.g.,purchasing power), such that the user can engage in unrestrictedpurchases (e.g., on a store website).

As another example, with particular reference to FIG. 3, a hardbiometric fingerprint sensor 302 may receive a fingerprint scan forbiometric authentication 310 that matches the template 309 providing avery high authentication score to the combined authentication scoredeterminer module 320. However, the soft biometric camera sensor datafrom the camera 170 for secondary authentication module 312 is very low(the facial picture has a very low matching factor to the face template)such that a low authentication score is transmitted to the combinedauthentication score determiner module 320. Moreover, the contextualsensor 307 via the GPS sensor provides a location of the mobile verydifferent than normal (e.g., out of county). Based upon this data, thecombined authentication score determiner module 320 determines acombined authentication score 330 that is much lower than the thresholdfor the mobile device 100. In this example, the mobile device mayperform actions to reduce access to data and functions for the user. Forexample, the mobile device may only be permitted to make emergency callsand local calls but is not permitted to access the contacts call list orto make long distance calls. However, over time, due to the continuousnature of generating the combined authentication score, the combinedauthentication score 330 may increase back to a suitable level (e.g.,based upon the face of the user matching the face template moreaccurately and the contextual sensor indicating the user is now at anapproved location (e.g., near home)), to become greater than the trustthreshold, such that full access to data and functions for the user isrestored including permitting full access to local and long distancephone calls.

It should be appreciated that these are merely examples and that a widevariety of scenarios are a possible.

Further, mobile device 100 may also command secondary authentication formore complete authentication data, such as an eye scan with the IRsensor and facial scan with the front camera whenever the initial inputof hard biometric sensor scores 302, soft biometric sensor scores 305,and contextual sensor events/scores 307, is not sufficient to match thethreshold required. For example, if the authentication score 330 fallsbelow a predetermined threshold then secondary authentication may becommanded. For example, the user may be required to use an additionalhard biometric sensor (e.g., an iris scan) and/or another soft biometricsensor, such as, a voice scan (e.g., name, password, etc.) to themicrophone, etc.

In these examples, if this secondary authentication fails, a widevariety of options are possible. For example, subsequent authenticationmay be requested. Additionally, a wide variety of different types ofrestrictions to a user's accessibility to data and functions of themobile device may be employed, as previously described, such thatdifferent levels of access may still be granted.

In one example, if the subsequent authentications continuously fail, avariety of operations may be performed. For example, the mobile devicemay be disabled. Further, if all of the subsequent authentications havecontinuously failed, the fingerprint template may be destroyed. Forexample, it may be assumed that the mobile device 100 has been stolenand/or the fingerprint scan data has been hacked. It should beappreciated that a wide variety of options are possible.

It should be appreciated that, in one example, if a very abrupt eventchange occurs, the modulation factor for the authentication score maydrastically change and drastic action may be taken. For example, if thecontextual sensor 307 via the GPS sensor provides a location of themobile very different than normal (e.g., in a different country) and nouser authentication input can authenticate the user, mobile device datamay be deleted or encrypted and the mobile device disabled and reportedstolen.

Further, in one example, paired device(s) may be utilized inauthentication procedures for the mobile device.

As another example, with particular reference to FIG. 3, a hardbiometric fingerprint sensor 302 may receive a fingerprint scan forbiometric authentication 310 that matches the template 309 providing avery high authentication score to the combined authentication scoredeterminer module 320. However, the contextual sensor 307 of the mobiledevice via the GPS sensor provides a location of the mobile device verydifferent than the GPS location of previously paired device 314 (e.g.,paired 3 hours ago). For example, the GPS location of the mobile device100 and the GPS location of the previously paired device 314 (e.g., awatch) are now 50 miles apart. Based upon this data, the combinedauthentication score determiner module 320 determines a combinedauthentication score 330 that is much lower than the predeterminedthreshold for the mobile device 100. The mobile device 100 may commandsecondary authentication with more complete authentication data, such asa voice scan via the microphone. In this example, if this secondaryauthentication fails, the biometric template 309 for the fingerprint maybe destroyed, assuming the mobile device 100 has been stolen and/or thefingerprint scan data has been hacked. In addition, because theauthentication score has fallen so far below the predetermined trustthreshold and/or the secondary authentication has not been met, themobile device 100 may be disabled (e.g., a kill switch implemented). Asan example, the paired device 314 may issue commands to monitor theprimary mobile device 100, to command template destruction, or todisable the mobile device.

As another example, with particular reference to FIG. 3, a softbiometric microphone sensor 305 may receive a voice scan forauthentication 312 that barely matches the voice template providing alow authentication score to the combined authentication score determinermodule 320. However, the contextual sensor 307 of the mobile device viaits GPS sensor provides a location of the mobile device very close tothe GPS location of previously paired device 314 (e.g., paired 3 hoursago) based upon the GPS sensor of the paired device 314. On the otherhand, the paired device 314 (e.g., a watch) via its microphone sensorrecently received a voice scan that highly matches the voice templatefor the paired device 314. In this example, the paired device 314provides sensor data that significantly increases the authenticationscore 330 such that further authentication from the mobile device 100 isnot required.

It should be appreciated that these are merely examples of thepreviously described embodiments. It should be appreciated that aspectsof the invention previously described may be implemented in conjunctionwith the execution of instructions by processors of the devices, aspreviously described. Particularly, circuitry of the devices, includingbut not limited to processors, may operate under the control of aprogram, routine, or the execution of instructions to execute methods,modules, or processes in accordance with embodiments of the invention.For example, such a program may be implemented in firmware or software(e.g. stored in memory and/or other locations) and may be implemented byprocessors and/or other circuitry of the devices. Further, it should beappreciated that the terms processor, microprocessor, circuitry,controller, etc., refer to any type of logic or circuitry capable ofexecuting logic, commands, instructions, software, firmware,functionality, etc

It should be appreciated that when the devices are mobile or wirelessdevices that they may communicate via one or more wireless communicationlinks through a wireless network that are based on or otherwise supportany suitable wireless communication technology. For example, in someaspects the wireless device and other devices may associate with anetwork including a wireless network. In some aspects the network maycomprise a body area network or a personal area network (e.g., anultra-wideband network). In some aspects the network may comprise alocal area network or a wide area network. A wireless device may supportor otherwise use one or more of a variety of wireless communicationtechnologies, protocols, or standards such as, for example, 3G, LTE,Advanced LTE, 4G, CDMA, TDMA, OFDM, OFDMA, WiMAX, and WiFi. Similarly, awireless device may support or otherwise use one or more of a variety ofcorresponding modulation or multiplexing schemes. A wireless device maythus include appropriate components (e.g., air interfaces) to establishand communicate via one or more wireless communication links using theabove or other wireless communication technologies. For example, adevice may comprise a wireless transceiver with associated transmitterand receiver components (e.g., a transmitter and a receiver) that mayinclude various components (e.g., signal generators and signalprocessors) that facilitate communication over a wireless medium. As iswell known, a mobile wireless device may therefore wirelesslycommunicate with other mobile devices, cell phones, other wired andwireless computers, Internet web-sites, etc.

The teachings herein may be incorporated into (e.g., implemented withinor performed by) a variety of apparatuses (e.g., devices). For example,one or more aspects taught herein may be incorporated into a phone(e.g., a cellular phone), a personal data assistant (“PDA”), a tablet, amobile computer, a laptop computer, an entertainment device (e.g., amusic or video device), a headset (e.g., headphones, an earpiece, etc.),a medical device (e.g., a biometric sensor, a heart rate monitor, apedometer, an EKG device, etc.), a user I/O device, a computer, a wiredcomputer, a fixed computer, a desktop computer, a server, apoint-of-sale device, a set-top box, or any other suitable device. Thesedevices may have different power and data requirements

Those of skill in the art would understand that information and signalsmay be represented using any of a variety of different technologies andtechniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information,signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be referenced throughout theabove description may be represented by voltages, currents,electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields orparticles, or any combination thereof.

Those of skill would further appreciate that the various illustrativelogical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described inconnection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented aselectronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. Toclearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software,various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and stepshave been described above generally in terms of their functionality.Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or softwaredepends upon the particular application and design constraints imposedon the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement the describedfunctionality in varying ways for each particular application, but suchimplementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing adeparture from the scope of the present invention.

The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits describedin connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implementedor performed with a general purpose processor, a digital signalprocessor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), afield programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device,discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or anycombination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein.A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in thealternative, the processor may be any conventional processor,controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also beimplemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combinationof a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one ormore microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other suchconfiguration.

The steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with theembodiments disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in asoftware module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two.A software module may reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory,EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, aCD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. Anexemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such the processorcan read information from, and write information to, the storage medium.In the alternative, the storage medium may be integral to the processor.The processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC. The ASIC mayreside in a user terminal. In the alternative, the processor and thestorage medium may reside as discrete components in a user terminal.

In one or more exemplary embodiments, the functions described may beimplemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof.If implemented in software as a computer program product, the functionsmay be stored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or codeon a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media includes bothcomputer storage media and communication media including any medium thatfacilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. Astorage media may be any available media that can be accessed by acomputer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readablemedia can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical diskstorage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or anyother medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code inthe form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed bya computer. Also, any connection is properly termed a computer-readablemedium. For example, if the software is transmitted from a web site,server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable,twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologiessuch as infrared, radio, and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiberoptic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such asinfrared, radio, and microwave are included in the definition of medium.Disk and disc, as used herein, includes compact disc (CD), laser disc,optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk and blu-ray discwhere disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproducedata optically with lasers. Combinations of the above should also beincluded within the scope of computer-readable media.

The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided toenable any person skilled in the art to make or use the presentinvention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles definedherein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from thespirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is notintended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to beaccorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novelfeatures disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mobile device comprising: a biometric sensor; acontextual sensor; and a processor configured to: determine anauthentication score based upon a biometric input received from thebiometric sensor; modulate the authentication score based upon acontextual sensor input received from the contextual sensor related toan event; and determine if the modulated authentication score fallsbelow a predetermined threshold, and if so, commanding secondaryauthentication.
 2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein, if themodulated authentication score falls below the predetermined threshold,further comprising, disabling the mobile device.
 3. The mobile device ofclaim 1, wherein, the biometric sensor is a soft biometric sensorconfigured to monitor a plurality of different types of biometricinputs.
 4. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein, the biometric sensoris a hard biometric sensor configured to only monitor a particularbiometric input.
 5. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein, thecontextual sensor input includes at least one of location, movement, oruser input.
 6. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein, the processor isfurther configured to: receive contextual sensor input from a contextualsensor of a paired device; and modulate the authentication score basedupon the contextual sensor input from the contextual sensor of thepaired device.
 7. The mobile device of claim 6, wherein, the processoris further configured to disable the mobile device based upon a disablecommand received from the paired device.
 8. A method comprising:determining an authentication score based upon a biometric inputreceived from a biometric sensor; modulating the authentication scorebased upon a contextual sensor input received from a contextual sensorrelated to an event; and determining if the modulated authenticationscore falls below a predetermined threshold, and if so, commandingsecondary authentication.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein, if themodulated authentication score falls below the predetermined threshold,further comprising, disabling the mobile device.
 10. The method of claim8, wherein, the biometric sensor is a soft biometric sensor configuredto monitor a plurality of different types of biometric inputs.
 11. Themethod of claim 8, wherein, the biometric sensor is a hard biometricsensor configured to only monitor a particular biometric input.
 12. Themethod of claim 8, wherein, the contextual sensor input includes atleast one of location, movement, or user input.
 13. The method of claim8, further comprising: receiving contextual sensor input from acontextual sensor of a paired device; and modulating the authenticationscore based upon the contextual sensor input from the contextual sensorof the paired device.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising,disabling the mobile device based upon a disable command received fromthe paired device.
 15. A non-transitory computer-readable mediumincluding code that, when executed by a processor, causes the processorto: determine an authentication score based upon a biometric inputreceived from a biometric sensor; modulate the authentication scorebased upon a contextual sensor input received from a contextual sensorrelated to an event; and determine if the modulated authentication scorefalls below a predetermined threshold, and if so, commanding secondaryauthentication.
 16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein,if the modulated authentication score falls below the predeterminedthreshold, further comprising code for disabling the mobile device. 17.The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein, the biometric sensoris a soft biometric sensor configured to monitor a plurality ofdifferent types of biometric inputs.
 18. The computer-readable medium ofclaim 15, wherein, the biometric sensor is a hard biometric sensorconfigured to only monitor a particular biometric input.
 19. Thecomputer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein, the contextual sensorinput includes at least one of location, movement, or user input. 20.The computer-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising code for:receiving contextual sensor input from a contextual sensor of a paireddevice; and modulating the authentication score based upon thecontextual sensor input from the contextual sensor of the paired device.21. A mobile device comprising: means for determining an authenticationscore based upon a biometric input received from a biometric sensor;means for modulating the authentication score based upon a contextualsensor input received from a contextual sensor related to an event; andmeans for determining if the modulated authentication score falls belowa predetermined threshold, and if so, commanding secondaryauthentication.
 22. The mobile device of claim 21, wherein, if themodulated authentication score falls below the predetermined threshold,further comprising means for disabling the mobile device.
 23. The mobiledevice of claim 21, wherein, the biometric template destroyed is afingerprint biometric template for a hard fingerprint sensor.
 24. Themobile device of claim 21, wherein, the contextual sensor input includesat least one of location, movement, or user input.